Indicating system for rolls of strip material



March 10, 1936. c. J. HUGHEY 2,033,713

INDICATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLS OF STRIP MATERIAL Filed April 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuml oz: Carlerllfiyhey, W J m March 10, 1 936. c J. HUGHEY 2,033,713

INDIGATING SYSTEM FOR ROLLS OF STRIP MATERIAL Filed April 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l0 1 l l lO, r

Patented Mar. 10, I

UNITED:- s'rn'i-Es 2.03ammnrca'rmd 'srs'rm r'on. some or i snumammal.

Carterl.

Hughes, Rochester, N. Y., aasignor to Kodak mm,

Rochester, N. Y., a

, is Claims. (01. 33-172) The present invention relates toaniindlcating system for rolls of strip material, and more particularly to an indicator for signiiying'the amount 0! strip. material on any one of several indicating systems which the number of feet or strip material" on a particular roll are well known. Indicating systems which emit an audible or visible 8 8ml when the amount 01' strip material on a roll reaches predetermined value are also well known. cwever, in all previous systems. an individual indicating device is employed to signify the amount of material on each individual roll.

In many arrangements, such as a duplex-camera, accurate determination of the mo t of btrlp material on each and every roll at all times is not necessary. The most important information desired as to the iootage on the-various rolls can be measured in terms oi the diameter or the smallest or largest roll. In other words, it the supply of strip materialis' being measured asthe rolls are reducing in diameter, it is, in general,

only necessary to know the amount of strip. material remaining on theroll oi smallest diameter. Conversely, if the rolls are building it is only necessary to note the diameter oi thei est roll. Information as to the other rolls of system is convenient but not necessary, and tly increases the complication and cost the indicating system. I.

The primary obiect oi the presen invention is the provision in an indicating ior a plurality of rolls of an indicating ineans for signiiying' the amount of strip material ,on one or said rolls, which roll is either oi the or smallest diameter. Y a Another objector the present invention is the provision in an indicating system tor-a plurality oi rolls oi strip material of a too tindicator ior registering directly the amount strip terial on one or said rolls. *3;-

JA iurther object oi! the present fivention is the provision in an indicating system for a plurality of rolls or strip material, of a single indicating means for emitting an audible or visible signal as the amount or strip material on one or saidrolls increases or decreases to a predetermined value. v a.

Still another object o! the present invention is the provision in an indicating system fora plurality of rolls oi strip material, oil a graduated indicator, and a plurality of members which are adapted to engage the outer convolution of re-' s'pective'rclls, the member which supervises the position of the indicator being that one which is in contact with the largest or smallest roll. I Other objects of. the invention willbe suggested to those skilled in the art as the-disclosure or the invention proceeds. 6 The aforementioned objects of the invention are attained by the provision 0! a plurality of members for engaging the outer co nvolutions of a plurality of iilm rolls, and a single indicating means which may be operated; by any one or said 10 members but which is directly controlled or supervised by the member in engagementwith the largest or smallest roll. The indicating means may also include a pair 0! contacts which are moved relatively with respect to each other by 15 one o! the members to assume positions'correspending to the diameter of the largest or smallest roll oi material, said contacts being adapted to control the emission ci a visible or audible signal as the diameter of the} engaged roll' reaches a go predetermined value.

The principles of the present invention are applicable to any indicating system for a plurality of film rolls, but the invention is disclosed with respect to a pair of film rolls in a duplex my camera. It is to be understood that this dis closure is not limited to a camera construction or to a pair of film rolls because my indicating system could be readily adapted to other uses and to indicate the diameter of. the largest or so smallest roll out or several rolls.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are only illustrative oi the present invention, and in which similar reference characters designate similar elements:

1'18. 1 is a side elevation of a duplex camera with one cover in open position to more'clearly show the internal parts of the camera.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a duplex camera with both covers in closed position and showing 40 the single footage indicator on the front wall 01! the camera.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section to an enlarged scale taken on the line H of Fig. l, and diagrammatically illustrates the electrical circuits is is identical with respect to him handling. A 55 ducted from sprocket it to a take-up .Jal

lower part of each film compartment. A pair of guide members is is centrally located in each compartment and conducts the film F from the supply film roll i i to the periphery oi a sprocket it which is rotatably mounted and provided with a plurality of notches ll for engagement with a driving means (not shown). The film F is con- 11 roll 93 by means of a. guide shoe to. The take-up film roll is mounted for rotation in a known manner upon a take-up spindle it.

A pair of objectives 26 is located in respective objective blocks 22 within each compartment with each objective in proper physical and optical relation with respect to the encircling the periphery of sprocket it.

Two lugs 23 are located at the lower corners of casing it and are provided with grooves 26 which are adaptedto engage a rod 25 for the support of the camera.

The construction thus for described does not constitute any part of the present invention, but merely provides a setting for the invention, as it illustrates a practical use of a plurality of rolls of strip material which are to be measured.

A plurality of members are mounted in a position to make contact with the outer convolution of each film roll, and are independently movable to assume positions corresponding to the diameter of the respective roll. Arms 28 and 2?, of the present embodiment constitute such inde= pendently movable members. The member in= eluding arms 2? and 2% is rotatably mounted on central partition 62 by means of a sleeve 29 hav= ing a collar or and supported in partition 6 A shaft it extends through sleeve to, is attached for a purpose to he .later described. The

other or said members is composed oi arm 26 which is driven onto the square end of a sleeve The sleeveed is rotatehly mounted on the other end oi shaft 30 and is independently movalole of that supporting shalt. A knob 86 and pin ill are also attached to arm is.

A coil spring-26 encircles sleeve 35, has one end attached to partition 92, and the other end curved around arm 2% to bias the some in a cloce dinection, see Fig. l. A second coil spring 2i encoil spring so; The slidahle element is composed of a bar ill having a right-angled end 32, and provided with elongated slots d3. A pair of headed pins it are threaded into the front wall of casing to, and slidably'engageslots 38 of bar it to slidably support said bar or slidahle element on the'casing. The coil spring so is connected at one end toe. pin or located on her ill, and at the other end to a pin to in the front wall of casing wand located within one of the slots on. y

:;,,-- noearie A single footage indicating means is operated the construction just described, the slidable element is normally held with the end or against either or both of pins 3% and ti on arms 28 and 2s respectively. The end 62 of bar ill will engage only one of the pins 36 and 371 ii the 1: it: rolls are of unequal diameter. For instance, if arm 2?! is in engagement with a film roll of larger diameter,

the pin will be held above the end 32 of par fill. Coil springs 25' and 27' are both stronger and predominate over the resilient action of coilspring so. In other words, 2% and 211 are held against the respective film rolls by springs.

to and 27', while the coil spring so raises the bar.

ations. A convex plate 56 is mounted on the front wall oi casing it, covers dial 38, and is provided with an ape into which the pointer extends for registration with the grad--.

nations on dial 88.

The operation of the single footage indicator. to register directly the amount of film on the smaller film roll should now he apparent. The slidehle element or bar 635 will assume positions comsponding to the diameter of the smaller film roll, this positioning of the slidahle element will he eiected either through the assembly composed of arm. 27, shalt 8i, arm 28, and pin (id, or the assembly composed of sleeve arm 26, and pin Ell. As the diameters of the rolls decrease.

see 1, the arm 26 and the arm ill moved under the action or" coil springs 26' and il to make frictional engagement at all times with the outer convolutions oi the respective film. rolls. The slidable element will he raised under the action of coil spring so that end :32 oi har dl A rack ll is provided along one edgeoi is merely held against the lower pin on the which is in contact with the smaller roll. This "elevation of the slidahle element will'catle rotation of the dial 3% and move the graduatioiic thereon with respect to fie pointer so so that the number of feet of film remaining on the smaller film roll will at all times be registered opposite pointer 3h. The other pin will he held ah ote'the end 62 or All if its corresponding film roll'is of greater diameter, both pins making contact with the end 62 o if the film rolls are of equal diameter.

Since it may he convmuient to locate the ioowgc indicator at a point which cannot be 'em ctrserved by an operator, it is often on audible and visible signals. It is not practical to design such audible-and visible signals ior direct indication of the film footage, and consequently these signals are employed to signify only a definite or predetermined value of the film on the roll. The audible and visible. indicating means both include the slidahle element of the previously mentioned footage indicator. This element is movable to positions corresponding to the diameter of the or filmr'oll, and comprises one of a pair of contacts which controls the signals.

An insulating block 53 is mounted on i ticn member 55 is rotatably mounted to permit over travel or continued movement of the slidable element after contact is made, without danger of causing damage to the indicating means. A conducting stud I. is imbedded in one wall of casing ll within an insulating sleeve 51 and insulating washer Bl. A wire it is connected between stud I and angle member I. A pointed contact I is mounted on a leaf-spring I, and is adapted to make contact with stud it when the camera is located in operating position and supported by rod 25. An audible signal, such as a buzzer ",and a visible signal, such as an incandescent lamp", are connected in parallel and between rod 25 and spring Oi, being energized by a battery it. The circuit for either of these signals upon contact between contact, member 55 and the end of bar I can be traced as follows: From battery 64 through leaf-spring 8|, pointed contact 0, conducting stud ll, wire 53, angle member 54, bar 4|, and headed pins ll to the casing iii of the camera from whence the circuit is continued through rod 25, and either or both buzzer 62 and lamp 53 to the battery N. The exterior of casingv it may be painted or lacquered, but the surfaces of grooves 24 should be left bare for good electrical contact between the casing ll and the rod 25.

The audible and visible signals will be inoperative most of the time, but when the diameter of either film roll has been reduced to a predetermined value, contact is made between one end of bar ll and contact member 55. This predetermined value may be varied by changing the location of block 53, but is generally selected as the location so that contact'is made when all of the film has been removed from the supply film roll.

The term duplex camera as used throughout the specification and in some of the claims is intended to define a camera in which photographic images may be formed simultaneously or otherwise upon two parallel .film strips. Fritts Patent 1,730,930 discloses one type of duplex camera.

However, for the purposes of the present invention, it is not necessary that the parallel films be exposed to the same object or that the film rolls be moved simultaneously. In other words, a duplex camera may include parallel film strips upon which dissimilar objects are photographed and which may be moved alternatively. It is also pointed out that the features of the invention apply with equal advantage to other types of film handling apparatus, the only requirements being that a plurality of rolls arranged to be wound or unwound cooperate with a single indicating means which is controlled by the roll either of least or greatest diameter.

Many alterations or modifications of the the United States and what I claim is:

1. In an indicating system for a plurality of rolls of strip material, the combination with a plurality of members each independently movable into a position corresponding to the diameter of the respective roll, of a single indicating means.

for signifying the amount of strip material on any one of said rolls operable by any one of said members, and operated by the member in contact with the roll of least diameter.

2. In an indicating system, the combination with a casing adapted to contain a plurality of 7 rolls of strip material, a plurality of members each independently movable within said easing into a position corresponding to the diameter of the respective roll, of a single footage indicating means on said casing for registering the amount of strip material on either one of said rolls op- 'means including elements operatively connected with said members so as to be movable to positions corresponding to the positions assumed by any of said members, but operated only by the member in contact with the roll of least diameter and for emitting a signal upon movement of said elements to a predetermined position thereby signifying that the amount of strip material on one of said rolls has reached a predetermined value.

4. In an indicating system for a plurality of rolls of strip material, the combination with a plurality of members movably mounted, adapted to. engage the outer convolution of the respective rolls and independently to assume positions corresponding to the diameters of said respective rolls, of a single indicating means movable to positions corresponding to the positions of any one of said members and operativeiy connected with said members so as to be controlled by the member in engagement with the roll of least diameter.

5. In an indicating system for a plurality of rolls of strip material, the combination with a plurality of members movably mounted, adapted to engage the outer convolution of the respective rolls and independently to assume positions corresponding to the diameters of said respective rolls, of a single footage indicating means which is movable to positions corresponding to the positions of any one of said members, which is operatively connected with said members so as to be controlled by the member in contact with the roll of least diameter and which is adapted to register the amount of strip material on said roll of least diameter.

6. In an indicating system for a plurality of rolls of strip material, the combination with a plurality of members movably mounted, adapted to engage the outer convolution of the respective rolls and independently to assume positions corresponding to the diameters of said respective rolls, of a single indicating means operatively connected to each member so as to be operable thereby but operated by the one member in contact with the roll of least diameter and including a slidable element and a spring for holding said element against the one of said members which is in engagement with the outer convolution of the roll of least diameter.

7. In a duplex camera containing a pair of film rolls, the combination with a pair of members independently movable and adapted respectively to engage the outer convolutions of said film rolls, of a single electrical indicating means in-.

- said members so as to be controlled by either p the outer convolutions of said film rolls to as one of said members and so as to be closed "by the member in engagement with the roll of lesser diameter and including a signal which is adapted to be operated when said pair of contacts are closed.

8. In a duplex camera containing a pair of film rolls, the combination with a pair of members independently, movable and adapted to engage sume positions corresponding 'to the diameters thereof, of a single electrical indicating 11168113131? eluding a single pair of contacts which are operatively connected with said members so as to' be" movable by either one of said members into relative positions corresponding to the diameter of the smaller film roll and including asignal which is adapted to be operated when said pair of con tacts are closed by movement of the member in engagement with the smaller film roll" into a predetermined position. r N

9. In a duplex camera containing a pair oi film rolls, the combination with a casing having side walls and a partition dividing said casing into two compartments for respective film rolls,

and a pair of arms independently rotatable on said partition and biased respectively to engage the outer convolution of the film roll in each compartment, of a single indicating means--in-= eluding a dial and a pointer movable with respect to each other to indicate film'footage and including an element slidably mounted on said casing for relatively moving said dial and pointer and adapted to be located by the armin' engagement with the film roll of smaller diameter.-

10. In a duplex camera containing a pair of.

film rolls, the combination with acasing having sidewalls and a partition dividing said easing into two compartments for respective film rolls, and a pair of arms independently rotatable on said partition and biased respectively to engage the outer convolution of the film roll in each compartment, of a single indicatingv means including a dial and a pointer one of which is rotatably mounted in said casing for relative movesmaller film roll.

fipfififiid 1 meat therebetweento indicate footage, an

partment, ot a single indicating means includ-' ing a" pointer on said casing, a dial rotatably mounted in saidcasing and having graduations for registry-with said pointer to indicate film footage, an element mounted on said casing for rectilineer'movement-and engaging said dial to rotate the same, and a spring between said ele-= ment and said casing for holding said element against the one of said arms whichis in engagement with the outer convolution of the 12. In a duplex camera containing a pair of film rolls, e combination with a casing having side walls and a partition iorforming two compartments for respective film rolls, and a pair oi arms independently rotatable on said partition and adapted respectively to engage the outer convolution oi the film roll in each compartment, of a single indicating means including-a pointer on said casing, a dial rotatably mounted in said casing and having a gear attached thereto and graduations thereon for registry with said pointer to indicate film footage,

an element having a pin and slot connection with said casing and having a rack for engaging said gear, and aspring between said element and said casing for holding said element against the one of said arms which is in engagement with the outer convolution of the smaller film roll.

CARTER J. HUGHEY. 

